Harvesting white asparagus is an art in itself. But with the right know-how and the right tools, you can do it successfully.
Growing asparagus involves a lot of work. But when you are finally ready to harvest it after about three years, the work is as good as forgotten. After all, you get fresh asparagus from our own cultivation. It doesn't get any better.
Until the asparagus is delicious with hollandaise sauce, breadcrumbs or wrapped in bacon on the plate, there are a few things to consider when harvesting. The optimal harvest time is at least as important as the right technique.
So that nothing goes wrong for you, we have listed all the important facts for you here.
The right harvest time
Asparagus needs temperatures of 12° degrees or more to grow. Depending on the weather, the harvest begins between the beginning of April and the beginning of May. It traditionally ends on June 24 of each year. The date is therefore also nicknamed "Asparagus New Year's Eve".
» Very important! Don't harvest your asparagus until the third year of cultivation. A poor harvest is possible in the second year, but only at the expense of future yields.
You can start harvesting as soon as the first cracks appear on the asparagus dam. The cracks are caused by the sprouts of the vegetables, which will now become visible in no time. Do not wait until the rungs protrude far from the ground. The white asparagus quickly begins to change color when exposed to the sun.
Two harvests a day possible
Under favorable conditions, white asparagus grows at a staggering rate of 0.75 centimeters per hour, allowing you to harvest twice a day. The morning just after sunrise and late afternoon are good times.
Aids for harvesting asparagus
For the asparagus harvest you need:
- a long asparagus knife (here at Amazon) to cut off the sprouts
- a masonry trowel to refill the soil after stabbing
- a basket to put the harvested asparagus in
- a cloth to hold theProtect asparagus in the basket from direct sunlight
Asparagus harvesting technique: explained step by step
1 First loosen the soil from between the shoot axes. This works best with the three-finger grip, which involves the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. It is important that you do not only superficially expose the asparagus. After all, you have to see what happens when you stab.
2 Once the asparagus is exposed, place the asparagus knife low on the individual shoots and separate them with sharp stitches. Don't get a swing when stabbing. Otherwise, there is a high probability that you will not hit the desired spot and you also risk injuring the roots of the plant.
3 In the last step, place the cut off asparagus sprouts in the basket under the cloth. Then fill the hole in the ground with the asparagus or bricklayer's trowel.